Brainstorming for a Father/child Camping Trip

[untruestory]

I’m looking for some perspective. A few fathers at our parish are organizing a father/child camping trip with teens.

I’d like it to be intentional and focused on the faith. On the other hand, I want it to be organic and not overly structured.

Anyone have any experience organizing or promoting such an activity?

 

[Maximilian75]

Begin and end each day with prayer, and then sprinkle some throughout as well… Pray the Rosary before meals, pray the chaplet of divine mercy at 3pm, get the other dads and yourself to look up cool stories of saints to tell around the campfire…

 

[TheLittleLady]

Invite a priest along so you can have Mass.

 

[FamilyMan]

Sometimes just the time together is enough, rather than trying to overdo the intentionality. Camping is so great for bonding.

That said, and speaking from a lot of experience at campsites, many campsites are full of people who drink long into the night and see their time in the wild as a chance to get a little wild themselves. I would be intentional about telling the dads that, no matter what good words they have to say over the course of the trip, they should be very mindful of the fact that teens are keen observers, and they are looking for role models who walk the walk more so than talk the talk. I would be clear with the dads that the weekend should be alcohol-free, to reinforce to the teens that fun can be had without resort to booze or worse.

Maybe not an issue with your group at all - hopefully so. On another note, I saw a group recently who held a Mass on the top of a mountain. A great day hiking and then a scenic Eucharist. Have fun!